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To assess possible health risks associated with the manufacture of paper, we carried out a retrospective analysis of mortality among 4,242 men and women employed at a Scottish paper mill between 1955 and 1992. During follow-up to 1994, 959 subjects had died giving an SMR of 0.85 (95% CI 0.80-0.90) in comparison with the national population. Mortality from all cancer (SMR 0.77, 95% CI 0.68-0.88) and particularly from lung cancer (SMR 0.64, 95% CI 0.50-0.81) was lower than expected. An excess of lymphatic and hematopoietic cancer (11 deaths, SMR 2.17) was observed in the making department. These findings do not support an occupational hazard of lung cancer as suggested by several earlier studies. The excess of lymphatic and hematopoietic cancer in the making department was unexpected, and may be a chance occurrence.

Three hundred and ninety one male employees aged 35-65 in a Swedish pulp and paper company were followed up for 22 years; 151 deaths were recorded by 31 December 1983. On the basis of data from 1961, indices for job decision latitude, job support, and other work related psychosocial factors were constructed as were five indices for non-work related social network factors. All indices were checked by life table analysis in respect of mortality. Job decision latitude and a combined index for job decision latitude and job support showed significant associations with mortality. These two indices were investigated by multivariate analysis with scale for evaluation of neuroticism and known somatic risk factors such as smoking, cholesterol, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Age, educational level, occupational status, physically heavy work, and general health state were also included in the multivariate analysis. Age, systolic blood pressure, the combined index for job decision latitude and job support, smoking, and neuroticism were shown to be independent predictors of mortality.

Mortality and hence the proportion of young weaned was markedly affected by the type of nesting material but not by maternal age or parity. With paper tissues for nesting purposes 476/791 (60%) young were lost compared with 216/1182 (18%) with woodwool. Similar results were obtained in 2 additional series. The proportion of young weaned was also affected by litter size; in general, pup mortality was heavier and took place earlier in the large litters (more than 9 young).

Termites are insects that can damage buildings, paper and plants. Termites are controlled by using termiticides (chemicals). Besides polluting the environment, termiticides may have harmful effects to organisms, including humans, and destroy metal. The use of chemicals will be environmentally and economically profitless. A joint effort to utilize biodegradable material will help to reduce the negative impacts of termiticides. One of the materials that can use to control termites is chitosan. The purpose of this study was to determine the termiticidal activity of chitosan on paper against termites. The termiticidal activity test followed method JIS K 1571 2004. The resistance of paper to termite damage was determined by calculating the percentage of weight loss and termite mortality rate. The following concentrations of chitosan in acetic acid were used: 0.5%, 1%, 1.5% and 2%. The test result showed that weight loss percentages were 20.49%, 16.37%, 15.77% and 10.80%, respectively. On the other hand, the weight loss percentage of paper without chitosan was 32.69%, which shows that termites do not favour chitosan used in the paper. The activity of termites was successfully inhibited when the concentration of chitosan was increased, and the percentage of paper weight loss decreased from 10.80% to 20.49%. Paper without chitosan had a termite mortality rate of 18.3%; The addition of chitosan increased termite mortality to 28.2%-30.4%. The percentage of weight loss decreased with increasing termite mortality. The termite mortality rate show that chitosan is nontoxic and potential as biotermiticide for paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper estimates the effects of humidity and temperature on mortality rates in the United States (c. 1973–2002) in order to provide an insight into the potential health impacts of climate change. I find that humidity, like temperature, is an important determinant of mortality. Coupled with Hadley CM3 climate-change predictions, I project that mortality rates are likely to change little on the aggregate for the United States. However, distributional impacts matter: mortality rates are likely to decline in cold and dry areas, but increase in hot and humid areas. Further, accounting for humidity has important implications for evaluating these distributional effects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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